«.3'WASTE LANDS BOARD.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 430, 30 January 1875, Page 3

' WASTE LANDS BOARD.

(Fom the " Times.")

This Board held its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday. Present— The Chief Commissioner (Mr J. T. Thomson) in the chair ; land Messrs Reid, Clark, Butterworth, and Strode. INFOEMATION WANTED. Mr Connell (for Mr Duncan Macrae) eaquired of the Board whether the balance of land in Waikaka Hundred, not included in the resolution of the Board at its last sitting, was to be opened for selection in the usual way ; also, whether the surveyed sections in Kaiwera, Pukerau, Waipahee, and Kuriwao Hundreds, upon which no improvements had been made, were open for selection at 20s per acre. It was important that settlers should know the price of the land in the Hundreds ™«ntioned. Reid rem«.u.a *!.„<- „„ plans had yet been prepared, and that Mr Connell knew that, as he had some of them himself in preparation. Mr Connell submitted it was not necessary plans should be prepared previous to giving the information sought. Mr Heid thought it a matter of regret that the time of the Board should be takWn up by Mr Connell in this way. Mr • onnell was not lecturing the Board. He was speaking to the Board in a respectful manner Mr Reid's time was too precious to be taken up in this way, It was a matter of courtesy to hear agents. He found no authority in the Waste Lands Act to do so. Mr Connell was only wanting to find out the price of land for the settlers. Mr Eeid repeated that the information would be given in due time. Mr Connell remarked that if the Board refused the information, be could only go away. It was information tlie Board should gi\ c. Messrs Reid and Btro.le remarked that the Board was not in a position to give the information now. Mr Connell : These Hundreds will be open on the 24th February, and here are a large number of men waiting for information as to the price. The Chief Commissioner : I have no information yet. Mr. Connell : Mr. Eeid you put yourself in the position of a man waiting for these lands, and then you will be able to appreciate the difficulty in which they are placed. Mr. Eeid objected to Mr. Conuell coming to the Boardandjin averring that he (Mr. Reid) was stopping the land from being opened for sale. He moved that the Board go on with the business. The question was au unprecedented one. Mr. Strode said they had no information Information could not be given because they had none to give. The Board minuted as its resolution — " No information." TOWNSHIP OF WAIKAIA. Mr. Ralph Shaw, on behalf of the Committee of the Mining and Progress Association, requested that the sales of the township of Waikaia be held at the Warden's office, Switzers, instead of, as formerly, at the Surrey office, Lawrence. Agreed, to appoint a District office at Switzers, the appointment of auctioneer to be left to the Government. QUEENSTOWX. — JETTY SITE. The recommendation of the Mayor of Queenstown concerning application by Mr. H. Manders for a jetty site at Queenstown, known as " Rees's " was read. Resolved that an annual license be granted Mr. Manders at a rental of £1 per annum, conditionally on a jetty being erected in six months. If that condition not complied with, license not to be renewed. NOTICE OF APPEAL. Notice of appeal was read from Mr. James Maeassey, for Mr. James Logan, against the Board's decision on the lllh inst. with regard to the application lodged by Mr. Logan on the 7th inst. for lands at the Waikoikoi. ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF CROWN LANDS. A report was read from Mr. Connelly on the illegal occupation of Crown lands, being part of deferred payment block CCV. Resolved that notice be sent by the Crown Commissioner to the two trespassers to vacate forthwith, otherwise proceedings would be taken against them. SWITZEBS FBEEHOLD GOLD MINING COMPANY. Mr John Mouat, on behalf of the Switzers Freehold Gold Mining Company, requested six months extension of time to prospect for coal ar lignite on Mr. Ibbotsons run. Agreed to. APPLICATIONS TO PURCHASE were dealt with with as follows :—: — Mr. James Wright, section 23, block IV., Waipori, and section 18 block XIV., Tuapeka East. Application refused, and land withdrawn from sale, in terms of the 3rd section of the ammended Act of 1874, under which the Board may withdraw any land deemed in- | expedient to be sold, this land being auriferous. Mr. John Bulfin, sections 25 and 26, block VII., Tuapeka West. Approvad. Mr. James Hayes, section 26, block V., Tuapeka West. Approved. Mr Mouat in speaking in favour of the declined application of Mr James Wright, mentioned that lately, in the Tuapeka district, the Government aud the Board had been leasing land. The Board had been selling it in blocks of 400 acres'to people living alongside of those who had previously applied for it on lease, but who had been refused. Mr Strode said the state of the country was altogether different to what it had been a short time ago. Consequently the administration had been altered. The Chief Commissioner: we must, refuse this application. Mr. Mouat : You cpnnot refuse- it. You can only withdrawn the land from sale. The simple result of this would be, not through the fault of the Board, but through the fault of the different land laws, somebody would step in, and by and by sweep all this land away in blocks of some thousands of acres. Mr. Strode thought that quite possible the circumstances of the country would alter it. Mr, Mouat : It is the result of acting from probabilities. Mr. Strode : You must act from probabilities in a new couutry. DUNBACIT. — TEMPOBARY WITHDRAWAL OF LANDS FEOM SALE The Government recommended that sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13, block IV., and sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, block 111., Dunback district, should be withdrawn from sale, and that they should be advertised open for application as on and after the Ist March, 1875. — Agreed to. TUAPEKA WEST. — LAND OF SPECIAL VALUE. The Government recommended that sections 40 41, 42, 46, 47, and 48, block VI., Tuapekft Weit, should be told, a* land of

special value at 25s per acre, having been improved by fencing, valuation for improvements to be added &> upset price. Agreed to. TUAPBKA 'WEST. — WITHDEAWAi O* LAND. The Government recommended" that the -Board, with the consent of the Superintendent, withdraw from sale section 32, block 11., Tuapeka West, pending' the action of the Provincial Council. — Agre'ed'to. EKCOMMENDATIONS'EE LAND. The Board agreed to the following recommendations of the Government : — " Executive Council, 27th January, 1875. — Resolved, that the unsurveyed portions of the Kuriwao Kaiwera, Waipahee, Dart, Heriot, Otaria' Waikaia, and Spottis Hundreds, be withheld from sale under the 3rd section of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1874, pending completion of survey. Also, that the following sections be declared land of special value, and sold at auction on the 23rd March, 1875, under the 85th section of the Otago Waste Lands Act, 1872, the land being of superior quality, having 'been*iuiproved by survey, fencing, and otherwise, and compensation having been paid to the runholders in terms of the t)(ago Was{& Lands Act of 1872 :— Waipahee Hundred— sections 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, IS, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, block V. Waipahee district, Kaiwera Hundred- -sections 3 and block X. Waikaka district, Otaria Hundred — sections 2 and 3, block V. Waipahee district, I WaiUota Hundred— section 1, block 111. Ghatto— sections 7. o, IS. 19, 10, oa, block I Chatto district, PuW au Hundred— sections 11, 12, 13, 20, block 11., Waipahee ciiscnui/. And tha+< the following sectiouo be opened for application on and after the 23rd March, 1875 : — Waipahee Hundred — sections 1, 5, 6, 9, 24, block V., Waipahee district. Otaria — sec. 1, blk. V., Waipahee district. Waikaka Hundred— sections 4, 8, 10. 26, 27, 30. 35, 38, 40, block I. Chatto district— section 3, block IIT. Pu'cerau Hundred — section* I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. 10, 17a, 17b, 18, 25, 28, 31, 34, block IX., Waikaka district. Sections 2, 3, and 6, olock XL, Waipahee district. HECKLESS DESTRUCTION OF FORESTS. Mr Clark thought the Board was to have some report in regard to the waste that had been carried on in the bush down about Catlin's River. The timber was cut in a reckless way, and he thought it necessary the Board should take some steps for the prevention of reckless waste. # The Chief Commissioner mentioned that he had ordered the Ranger to make enquiries and repert, and that he was now in the locality. Mr. Clnrk thought this was not sufficient. The Rnnjjw could not properly attend to the bush there ; and there should be a special Ranger for the place. Mr. Strode mentioned the Tuturau bush, and thought some one shoidd be appointed to look after it. Aster some further remarks, Mr. Reid thought the Government wguld be jnstified in going to some expense in appointing a man. It was resolved that no steps bo taken in the matter till the Ranger report.